The meetings were a blur to him. He signed a lot of paperwork, attended a brunch press release, then signed a major merger. He was worried about his inattention for this. But he fortunately had Fox present to assure him on the decision.

Before he knew it, Alfred had pulled up to the front of the CPD. Bruce hesitated a moment, his hand was gripped on the door handle, but his mind caused him to pause.

"Sir, you are doing the right thing." Alfred said, observing him from the rear view mirror.

Bruce took in a breath and regained his strength. "Thank you Alfred."

Coming through the front doors, he was immediately greeted by Detective Hernandez, and ushered to the elevator. "You just have to sign a little more paperwork." She said pushing in the button for the fifth floor.

He nodded at this. He really had nothing to say to this. He was experiencing tunnel vision at the moment. He was prepared for paperwork, that was his day job. But the reality of meeting her face-to-face, then taking her home with him. Now that was far more daunting to him.

Returning back to the same office from before, she handed over a few packets. He quickly scanned them over and signed one page after another. To his left he caught the quick flash of the lights in the room next door go on, and an woman walk in with Martha. The girl seemed in better spirits, but still had an air of depression overshadowing her. Finishing up the final packet he pushed the documents forward, and closed his pen.

"Your copies will be sent to your lawyer, and here," handing him a small packet, "is temporary packet of the basic forms."

He received them across the table, and slipped them into his briefcase.

"Well, shall we?" She stood, waving him over to follow.

Hiding his hesitation, he stood, and followed her to the room next door.

"We will have to observe you speaking with the girl for a little while. Its Protocol." Hernandez said, as a an officer and CPS agent walked into the office they just left.

"That's fine."

Hernandez gently knocked on the door, and Detective Hanley answered. "Is she ready?"

"Yes she is. I will stay out here, just in case." Hanley responded, as she stood off to the side.

Hernandez nodded at this, and walked in first, followed by Bruce.

"Martha dear. How are you doing today?" Hernandez questioned as she came forward and knelt down in front of the girl.

"I'm fine. Amy was very kind. She made blueberry pancakes for me this morning."

"Yum. I wish Detective Hanley would make those for us here at the station. That sounds really good."

"It was."

Hernandez cleared her throat, and looked over to Bruce. "Now Martha, there is someone I'd like you to meet. His name is Bruce Wayne, and he was a friend of your mommy."

Marti looked over the Detective's shoulder, and spotted the man she was speaking of. "I've seen him before." She said before she could think.

"You have?" Hernandez questioned.

"Yes, my mommy always kept a picture of him in her purse."

Bruce's corners of his mouth turned down at this, he still had Andi's locket, which probably had the same picture in it.

"Did your mommy tell you who he is?"

"No… Well just that he was very important to her."

Hernandez looked up to Bruce, she didn't know what to say next. Bruce came forward and offered his hand to shake, "Hi Martha, its nice to finally meet you."

Her little hand was not even close to the size of his palm, and her grip was so light he had to look down to make sure her hand was still there.

Hernandez cleared her throat again, and took the little girl by the shoulders. "Well honey. Mr. Wayne is the closest thing you have to family, and he is willing to take you to his home. You don't have to go with him. You could stay here a little longer. But eventually you will have to be placed into a home, and we can't guarantee when that will be."

Marti showed confusion on her face. "When will mommy come for me?"

Hernandez bit at her lip with this, she hated to hear children being scared and confused because of situations like these. "The second we hear from her, we will call you right away."

Marti was a little reassured by this, but gave a cautious look over to Bruce. "Can't I stay with Amy?"

"I'm sorry dear. Hanley needs to get back to work."

"Then… Then…" Marti began to quake a little.

"Oh sweetie." Hernandez hugged her, "Dear, this is your choice. I know a nice lady who could place you in a home here in town."

Marti began to cry a little at this. She didn't know what to do.

"I'm sorry Mr. Wayne. I don't think today would be a good day for this." Hernandez said, as she continued to console Martha.

"It's alright. I want her to be comfortable with this."

Detective Hanley came in through the door behind him, and took over for Hernandez.

"Well, I guess we will call you when it's a better time." Hernandez concluded, as she went for the door with Bruce.

"You have all my contact information. Don't hesitate to call."

All the while this conversation was taking place, Marti was having a major crisis. She was unsure about this man, but she knew her mother knew him, and perhaps trusted him.

"I will also contact you if I hear from her.I know that I am the last person Andi has to consider family, and she knows she can always depend on me."

Hearing him say her mother's nickname, she perked up. No one called her Andi, no one but her father according to mom. So he must have known her. Also, perhaps he may be able to find her first. Looking over Hanley's shoulder, she saw that he and Hernandez were leaving the room, and the door was shutting. In a quick jolt, she broke away from Hanley's embrace, "No Wait!" She exclaimed. Slipping through the door, she dashed down the hall, and grabbed at the back of Bruce's suit jacket. As he turned around she slowly released her grip. "Please… don't.. go." She pleaded through tears. "Please… take me.. with you.".

Bruce's eyes went wide at this. He was sure she was afraid of him. Looking her over, the poor girls legs swayed, as if they were about to buckle. "Is that what you want?" He asked, kneeling down to her level.

"Yes." She blurted out through a sniffle, and hugged him tight.

He was not prepared for this, and hesitated for a moment, before he hugged her in return. After a few moments, she still was holding him tight. So he stood, holding her in his arms. Hanley poked her head out of the doorway, presenting a well loved teddy bear. Bruce adjusted her with one arm, and received the bear.

"I'll get her bag." Hernandez said, as she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.

Martha didn't move an inch. She held tight to Bruce, as they walked down the main steps of the front entry. Hernandez handed over her suitcase to Alfred, and waved goodbye. Despite the difficulty, Bruce kept Martha in his arms as he lowered himself into the back seat of his car. This didn't affect Martha in any way, she simply kept a firm grip on his lapel. Bruce attempted to hand Martha her bear, but she kept her face buried in his chest. So he sat the bear down next to him, and waved goodbye to the Detective.

"Master Bruce, we could make the five o'clock flight?"

"Sounds good Alfred." Bruce responded softly, as he felt Martha's grip ease. Looking down he found her asleep.

"Poor thing. All this trauma probably taken quite a toll on her." Alfred commented as he glanced at her from his mirror.

Bruce slid her over his lap to sit at his side. As he did this, she roused a little, and quickly lunged for him, and reburied her face in the side of his chest. Cautiously he kept his arm up, but eventually he lowered it, resting the palm of his hand on her back. He could feel her staggered breaths from crying through his jacket and vest. Eventually it subsided, and she fell into a deep sleep.

They arrived late that night in Gotham. Which Bruce was grateful for. He was most likely to miss any possible paparazzi this way. Martha was in and out of sleep, so he still carried her, despite her being awake.

"Master Bruce, I'll get the car. Best to put on your heavy coat sir. You'll catch your death out there like that."

Looking down, he realized he still had his suit jacket wrapped around Martha. "Right. Thank you Alfred." Slowly tugging at his jacket, he felt her rouse, and squirm a little in his arms. "Sorry. We have arrived. You think you can stand?"

She nodded at this, and he slowly lowered her to her feet. She wobbled a little, but kept close to his side.

Pulling her teddy bear from his jacket pocket he handed it over, and began to layer up. Reaching for his first button on his greatcoat, he looked down at her. Seeing she was wearing a relatively light pea coat, he noticed she shivered a little. "You cold?"

She nodded at this.

Hoisting her up, with his freshly gloved hands, he held her to his side and wrapped his outer coat around her. "Better?"

She nodded again.

Looking out the main doors, he spotted Alfred pulling up. As he stepped out, the cold air whipped around him, and was dusted with fresh snowflakes. A wave of exhaustion hit him. He was more than ready to be home.